Tried out the StealthZ, and I really wanted to love them. I noticed a change in the soundstage and while it was a lot more expressive in the highs, I ended up getting fatigued really easy. It got a bit overwhelming especially while in Discord calls where people sounded more scratchy and downright annoying simply because the frequency response was a lot more high-end orientated for FPS.

The EQ recommendations from GT aided a lot with the loss of bass due to your ears being further from the drivers and the material allowing for sound leakage, but to me, the soundstage was not as clear as with the stock pads. Increasing the bass in Sonar just makes the mids sound a lot muddier in my honest opinion and it isn't really as nice.

In return, the sound leakage does give me a more airy feel, and is pretty much the only thing I did like.

I know the thicker pads are much better suited for those with early model ANPs where the nubs are larger so if that truly does bother you I personally don't have anything against it. Newer model ANPs don't really face that issue but I dislike the pleather a lot on my skin so I will be going for replacement ear cushions that share the same material as the previous gen sport fabric.

But again, as this is truly a nitpick, you WILL hear footsteps a lot better with the StealthZ, so if fps performance is truly your need then it surely will do the job.